1976 Ford Falcon vs. 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata
To start off, 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata is newer by 25 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 1976 Ford Falcon. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 1976 Ford Falcon would be higher. At 3,273 cc (6 cylinders), 1976 Ford Falcon is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata (134 HP @ 6500 RPM) has 5 more horse power than 1976 Ford Falcon. (129 HP @ 4600 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata should accelerate faster than 1976 Ford Falcon. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 1976 Ford Falcon weights approximately 315 kg more than 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata.
Both vehicles are rear wheel drive (RWD) - it offers better handling in dry conditions; in addition, if you are looking to drift, both vehicles do the job better than front wheel drive vehicles. With that said, do keep in mind that many other factors such as speed and the wear on your tires can also have significant impact on traction and control. Let's talk about torque, 1976 Ford Falcon (263 Nm @ 2000 RPM) has 100 more torque (in Nm) than 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata. (163 Nm @ 5000 RPM). This means 1976 Ford Falcon will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata.
Compare all specifications:
| 1976 Ford Falcon | 2001 Mazda MX-5 Miata | |
| Make | Ford | Mazda |
| Model | Falcon | MX-5 Miata |
| Year Released | 1976 | 2001 |
| Body Type | Sedan | Convertible |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 3273 cc | 1840 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 6 cylinders | 4 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | in-line |
| Horse Power | 129 HP | 134 HP |
| Engine RPM | 4600 RPM | 6500 RPM |
| Torque | 263 Nm | 163 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 5000 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | Rear | Rear |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 2 seats |
| Vehicle Weight | 1380 kg | 1065 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4870 mm | 3980 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1910 mm | 1690 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 1390 mm | 1230 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2830 mm | 2270 mm |
